Dynamic Pore Network Modeling of Imbibition in Real Porous Media with Corner Film Flow

Area of Science:

• Multiphase flow in porous media
• Pore-scale modeling
• Fluid dynamics

Background:

• Wetting films form in pore corners during imbibition, impacting two-phase flow.
• Modeling corner film dynamics is challenging due to scale differences.
• Accurate simulation is vital for understanding fluid transport in porous materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a novel pore network model for simulating corner film dynamics.
• Analyze the interplay between main meniscus and corner film flow.
• Improve the efficiency and accuracy of two-phase flow modeling in porous media.

Main Methods:

• A two-pressure dynamic pore network model with an interacting capillary bundle model.
• Pore network extraction from real porous media with sub-pore network decomposition.
• Lattice Boltzmann modeling for two-phase flow conductance and artificial neural networks for prediction.

Main Results:

• The model accurately simulates imbibition in a strongly wetting square tube.
• Simulations in sandstone reveal significant corner film development.
• Corner film formation intensifies with decreasing capillary number and viscosity ratio.

Conclusions:

• The developed model effectively captures corner film dynamics in porous media.
• Corner film flow plays a crucial role in multiphase flow, especially under specific fluid conditions.
• This approach enhances understanding of fluid transport and displacement in wetting porous systems.